Our Interview With Yvette Mirabal, Executive Director, Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies at Rice University

Yvette Mirabal is the Executive Director of Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies at Rice University

What makes the Rice360 Global Health Fellowship uniquely valuable for aspiring medical students?

The Rice360 Global Health Fellowship is unique because it provides recent engineering post-baccalaureate graduates with the chance to meaningfully address the health needs of under-resourced and underserved communities through medical technology design, clinical evaluation, and implementation. Fellows go beyond studying global health in the classroom; they get real-world hands-on experience in developing solutions to some of the most pressing challenges for providing high-quality medical care, identified in partnership with our global collaborators. Fellows not only work in our laboratory and makerspace, but also travel to global partner hospitals in Malawi, Kenya, and beyond, to assess their designs in real clinical environments. Moreover, by working alongside engineers, clinicians, and local health officials, fellows get comprehensive experience in interdisciplinary, multi-cultural collaboration.

Which key skills can students expect to learn during their time at the Global Health Fellowship?

Global Health Fellows develop a diverse set of technical and interpersonal skills that are essential for modern medical practice.  Fellows can develop proficiency in prototyping, human-centered design, and evidence-based laboratory and clinical research skills, learning how to iteratively develop medical tools informed by end-user feedback and clinical data. Fellows troubleshoot equipment implementation and maintenance issues, navigating clinical environments where infrastructure and resources are often limited.  Fellows also learn about design for manufacture and obtaining regulatory approval for medical technology. 

How does your program prepare students for the realities of medical school and the medical field?

The Global Health Fellowship program prepares students for the realities of medical care within  the global health landscape, with various opportunities to see care firsthand in resource-constrained settings and engage with experts on current topics of global health importance all while immersing themselves deeply in holistically addressing one specific issue. Through these firsthand experiences, fellows see how geography, economics, and infrastructure impact patient access to quality healthcare and can drive inequitable health outcomes when unchecked.  Therefore, along with learning to apply the engineering mindset to problem solving in a clinical setting, the program prepares them to treat future patients from a more innovative, comprehensive, and empathetic perspective. Furthermore, through the experience of working in interdisciplinary teams, fellows become adept at the collaborative mindset necessary in modern hospital systems where various specialists work together to achieve a common goal.

Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Yvette Mirabal, to help future doctors understand the challenges and rewards of a medical career. Set up a consultation with one of our experts today to learn more about how we can help you get into medical school.